From the desk of Swordsman YenI don't think Blazers owner Bob Whitsitt seems to understand that just because you load up on a bunch of big name players and high-profile free agents doesn't mean that it's going to translate into a championship. Every year that they've been eliminated since 1999-2000, Whitsitt made a knee-jerk reaction by either trading away a key player or adding a player that was a head case, a bum, or both. The result is a team full of head cases and bums and one that is $40 million over the cap to boot. Unless the Blazers can establish a good core of players with what they have long enough to unload some overpriced contracts (Scottie Pippen, I'm looking at you), the turmoil will only continue.

Wow, Swordsman you are totaly correct. Whitsit does try to win the championship every single year by signing the best players available. But great players don't translate into a great team. Portland has one of the best teams players 3-12 and even without a superstar player they should be able to go to the western finals at least. But they have no team spirit because they are just a random collection of players. As a semi Blazers fan (I live in OR) I want them either to be good or suck. But no more of this 48 wins get the 6th spot and lose in the first round. Oh and Stoudamire is a bitch who wants to get out of Portland because the cops got all his weed and are now staking him out and he can't sell any.

I just have 13 words for you. How much wood would a woodchuch chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

It does make me feel very good, however, that the most constantly stable team rosters tend to have the most long-term success.

That's one of the key reasons the Pacers have been very good for some time, in my estimation. Yeah, we're a little down now, but now everyone's healthy and a goodly number of our guys are still quite young. But when they get to the level they can be, WATCH OUT, LAKERS! Whoo.

Portland, of course, has very little stability as has been mentioned. And a bunch of head cases or people with criminal backgrounds.

That's one of the key reasons the Pacers have been very good for some time, in my estimation. Yeah, we're a little down now, but now everyone's healthy and a goodly number of our guys are still quite young. But when they get to the level they can be, WATCH OUT, LAKERS! Whoo.

You're definitely dreaming if you think it matters what the Pacers do as long as Kobe and Shaq are Lakers. It doesn't matter who signs where unless someone can get three or four big-time All-Stars together (the Kidds, KGs, TDs, etc.) At least the Pacers are entertaining, though. The Blazers are the most boring basketball team in the NBA.

NO WAY!! It's too much fun watching Scotty "Maybe Jordan's shadow wasnt so bad after all" Pippen throw his temper tantrums while Rasheed Wallace is cussing out refs and getting thrown out of every 3rd game.

I kind of have to agree with Jay Jay. I know right now what the Blazers will accomplish. They will be good the first 30 games call it 17-13, kick ass their next 30 call it 22-8, then suck balls their last 22 say 8-14. Pippen will be pissed at everyone, Wallace will set a new record in fouls, and one of the other players will be benched for skipping practices.Then the will make it into the playoffs as the #7 seed and get their asses kicked by the Lakers, Spurs, or Mav's. Oh and any time the Blazers lose by less than 5 it's because of the poor ref calls. How do I "know" these things? Because they have done the same damn thing for 20 out of the last 25 years.

(edited by Dahak on 17.8.02 1957)I just have 13 words for you. How much wood would a woodchuch chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?